Fractional Quantum Hall Effect in Optical Lattices

Mohammad Hafezi,
Harvard University

Abstract:
In this talk, I try to analyze a recently proposed method
to create fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states of atoms confined in
optical lattices. Conditions under which the FQH effect can be
achieved for bosons on a lattice with an effective magnetic field and
finite onsite interaction, will be investigated. Furthermore, we
characterize the ground state in such systems by calculating Chern
numbers which can provide direct signatures of topological order and
explore regimes where the characterization in terms of wavefunction
overlap fails. We also discuss various issues which are relevant for
the practical realization of such FQH states with ultra cold atoms in
an optical lattice, including the presence of the long-range dipole
interaction which can improve the energy gap and stabilize the ground
state. We also investigate a new detection technique based on Bragg
spectroscopy to probe these system in an experimental realization.